Understanding how immune cells respond after brain injuries from blasts
Official title: Breaching CNS barriers: Deciphering the spatiotemporal regulation of immune cell surveillance following blast TBI
Funded at White River Junction VA Medical Center · NIH-10923422 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the immune system reacts in the brain after blast injuries, especially in military personnel, to better understand how this might lead to long-term issues like anxiety and depression, with the hope of finding better treatments to help people recover.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | White River Junction VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (White River Junction, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | October 1, 2024 |
| Project end | September 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 1IK2BX006530-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10923422 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are military personnel who have experienced blast traumatic brain injuries and are suffering from related neuropsychiatric symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with brain injuries not related to blast exposure or those without neuropsychiatric complications may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the immune response in the central nervous system (CNS) following blast traumatic brain injury (bTBI), particularly in military personnel. The study aims to uncover the mechanisms that regulate inflammation and immune cell infiltration into the CNS after such injuries. By utilizing advanced imaging techniques, researchers hope to identify how these immune responses contribute to chronic neuropsychiatric issues like anxiety and depression. The ultimate goal is to inform personalized treatment strategies that could improve recovery outcomes for affected individuals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new immunomodulation therapies that enhance recovery and quality of life for patients with blast-related brain injuries.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding immune responses in brain injuries, but this specific approach to blast TBI is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
White River Junction VA Medical Center
White River Junction, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Disano, Krista — White River Junction VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Disano, Krista
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
VA BIC: A Suicide Prevention Program for Veterans
A VA psychiatrist is applying for a career development award to expand and test a proven support program designed to prevent suicide among veterans.
-
Deciding when to stop yearly CT scans after repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm
This project compares keeping yearly CT scans versus less frequent imaging to help Veterans who had endovascular aortic aneurysm repair avoid unnecessary risks.
-
Suicide prevention help for Veterans using VA community care
A program called VA BIC aims to reduce suicide risk among Veterans who receive mental health care outside VA facilities, by providing brief interventions and follow-up contact.
-
Using the body's cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway to reduce brain inflammation and mood and thinking problems after traumatic brain injury
This project tests whether stimulating the vagus nerve or giving a drug called anatabine can lower brain inflammation and improve mood, memory, and behavior after blast-related traumatic brain injury.
-
Big-data driven suicide prevention for Veterans
A big-data project aimed at identifying and helping Veterans at risk of suicide who aren’t flagged by current prediction methods.
-
Using nerve stimulation and a specific drug to reduce inflammation after brain injuries
This study is looking at how a special treatment might help reduce inflammation in the brain and improve mental health after a traumatic brain injury, especially for those who have experienced blast injuries, using a rodent model to find new ways to help people recover better.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.